Brenda Song has never hidden her love for basketball, especially when it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers. So when the actress and longtime NBA fan recently revealed her all-time starting five during an interview with Complex, her lineup immediately sparked debate among basketball fans, per Fadeaway World.
Song’s choices featured several expected legends, but she also made a few selections that separated her list from the usual all-time conversations. Most notably, she picked Kobe Bryant over Michael Jordan and slotted Dennis Rodman at small forward instead of LeBron James.
“I think it’s very biased for me,” Song admitted. “Like my center would obviously be Shaq. My power forward would be Tim Duncan. Of course, my shooting guard, it’s so hard, because MJ is the GOAT, but I’ll have Kobe on my team any day.”
Her frontcourt selections of Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan did not surprise many fans. O’Neal remains one of the most physically dominant players in league history, while Duncan built a reputation as one of basketball’s greatest leaders and defenders during his Hall of Fame career.
Still, Song’s decision to side with Bryant over Jordan quickly became the biggest talking point. Bryant modeled much of his game after Jordan, from his footwork to his relentless scoring mentality. Jordan collected more MVP awards and championships, but Bryant earned admiration for his tireless dedication to mastering every aspect of the game.
For Song, the choice also reflects years of loyalty to the Lakers organization. Bryant spent his entire NBA career in Los Angeles, becoming one of the franchise’s most beloved stars and helping shape a generation of basketball fans, including Song herself.
Brenda Song Prioritized Balance Over Star Power
Song continued building her lineup by debating between two very different point guards.
“Point guard, I probably have GP or Steph Curry,” she said. “I kind of go back and forth because you can’t just have a million scorers on the team.”
Her mention of Gary Payton alongside Stephen Curry highlighted the thought process behind her roster construction. Payton brought elite perimeter defense and playmaking throughout his career, while Curry transformed modern basketball with his shooting range and offensive gravity.
Song then delivered her most unconventional pick.
“And this is the crazy one,” she said. “Most people would say LeBron. I don’t need another scorer. I want Dennis Rodman in there. Dennis Rodman is one of my favorite players because he’s such a rebounder.”
Choosing Rodman over James may sound shocking to some fans, but Song’s reasoning centered on team balance rather than individual accolades. With Bryant, O’Neal, and potentially Curry already handling most of the scoring load, Rodman’s rebounding, defense, and relentless energy could complement the group more naturally.
Lakers Fandom Shapes Brenda Song’s Passion
Song’s deep basketball knowledge connects closely to her longtime Lakers fandom. The actress frequently attends games courtside alongside fiancé Macaulay Culkin and has openly discussed how emotionally invested she becomes during games, Yahoo reports.
During a recent appearance on Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, Song shared one of her wildest Lakers-related superstitions.
She recalled hyperventilating during a tense Game 7 matchup between the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings because she believed the Lakers kept scoring every time she sipped water. Song said the situation became so intense that she ended up in the hospital, though she still watched the postgame coverage from the waiting room before hospital staff eventually turned off the televisions.
Song also joked that Culkin worries she could end up arguing with opposing fans during games because of how passionately she supports the Lakers.
Her all-time lineup may not mirror the consensus choices across NBA history, but Song’s explanation showed a deeper understanding of roster fit, chemistry, and basketball roles rather than simply stacking the biggest names together.
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